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UNITED TATES EDVVINHALL, OF OXFORD, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARRIAGE-SPRINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,705, dated July 4, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN HALL, of Oxford, in the county of Ohenango and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carriages; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which drawing- Figure l is a top-plan view of my invention; Fig. 2, a front elevation; and Fig. 3, an end elevation of the same.

Similar letters represent corresponding parts in each figure.

The object of my invention is a,- modification of platform-springs and their immediate connections, so that such springs shall. be cheaper, lighter, and more durable, and their action more equable in use over rough roads, and so as to give greater elasticity of motion to the shafts or draft-pole; and my invention consists in the arrangement of the principal springs by which the weight rests in the first instance upon the front and rear springs; in the employment of a novel bearing to support the fifth-wheel; in the springbraces employed for supporting and giving in creased elasticity to said bearing; in the spring draw-bars, their arrangement and attachment; and in the combination of the several operative parts, all as more fully hereinafter described and set forth.

In the drawing, A represents the axle; B, the forward, B the rear, and O the side springs, all of which are of ordinary construction. The springs are connected or coupled together and attached to the axle in any usual or convenient fashion. The side springs C are secured at their centers to the axle, and are arranged lengthwise of the wagon, while the springs B and B, connected to them, are arranged crosswise, and the springs B, B, and C are so arranged that the weight rests in the first instance directly upon the upper centers of the springs B and B. The bearing D, made of wood and of the form portrayed in Fig. 1, having forked ends (1, extends fiom the upper center of the spring B to that of the spring B, and is securely fastened to said springs by bolts passing through the ends 01 and the springs, respectively, and through blocks E interposed between said springs and ends. Upon the center of the bearing D the fifth-wheel F is front ends reach a little beyond the spring B,

where they have shackle-bars I, which are secured to said bars H in front and behind said spring, the centers iof said shackle-bars passing over said spring B so as to form a recess in which said spring B has a little freedom of motion. The fronts of said shackle-bars are provided with suitable shackle-ears z" for the attachment of shafts or a draft-pole. Braces J, made of spring steel, are secured at their front ends to the cen ters of the shackle-bars, and at their rear ends to the bearing 1), or instead of two springs a single one may be used with its center secured to said bearing and its ends, as before described. These braces are curved outwardly and upward- "ly so as to spring vertically and laterally.

The advantage of the arrangement of the main springs, so that the connection of the wagon is upon the longitudinal center of the platform instead of upon the lateral center, consists in the greater uniformity of action of the springs, particularly when the load is mostly upon one side of the wagon, and in passing over rough roads. In such instances, in the usual arrangement of springs, the weight is thrown wholly upon one of the side springs, which is thereby frequently broken, while by my arrangement the shock is shared by the front and rear springs as well as by the side spring. The advantage of the wood bearing consists in the firm and convenient support it gives to the fifth-wheel, while it allows a little elasticity in such bearing; and of the springbraces, in their giving both lateral and vertical support to the whole platform and the bearing without detracting from the spring of any part; and of the spring draft-bars, that they form a strong and convenient means of .attaching the draft directly to the axle and at the same time allow a certain elasticity of draft in a direct line, thereby lessening the shock of sudden movements of the team while they permit also a degree of vertical spring to the coupling of the draft. The advantages of the whole device lie in its lightness and ease in operation, every part being elastic, every part acting in common supscribed and shown.

The combination of the springs B, B, and O, the bearing D, and the spring-braces J, all constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.

4. The spring ch'aft bars H, constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as described and shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of May, 1871.

EDWIN HALL.

Witnesses:

JAMES W. GLOVER, "GEORGE W. ROGERS. 

